Been keeping busy on some small tasks with the end goal of undercoating and getting the body back on the frame by Spring.

So with that in mind I started finishing things off on the Chassis that is essentially 95% done. I had my stock tank boiled out and lined because I was not happy at all with poly plastic tank - it's for sale if anyone is interested

Also no one reproduces the rubber isolators that go under the tank straps and the tank flange so I've got some 1/8" sheet rubber coming and I will copy the original rubbers.

Then I need to get the fuel lines finished off. Hard lines are in, just the rubber hose connections need to be put on.

Then I turned back to getting the body ready for undercoating. I cut out the all the rust spots on the bed floor and will be patching in scavenged '68 long bed patches soon.

Pics of the holes I cut in the floor - 5 spots in total were cut out. This is my first attempt at rust repair but I'm excited to learn. What's the worst that can happen?

Rear tail gate area - both sides are like this.

Crossmember was toast also but I will patch that also.

3 of the 4 wheel tub corners look like this, but this one was the worst one.

I'll prep the patches soon and get these checked off my list.

I am also stealing this "punch list" idea from the infamous "Low Buck Junkyard Build" - So here goes:

TUB WORK

Repair wheel tub / bed floor rust

Repair drilled hole in firewall by PO

Cut larger firewall fuse panel hole for AAW kit

Dress body bolt areas (Left over tack welds)

Clean & Prep underside of Tub

Spray some kind of rust converter in areas not accessible to be prep'd and primed

Last few weekends I got a bit further on the bed patching. I also re-installed my original gas tank after the radiator shop was done with it. I made a set of 1/8" rubber isolators for the tank flange and straps using the originals as templates. Turned out really nice I think.

Found starter bolts that were the correct 4 5/16" length for my starter, got radiator hoses and clamps installed, the BTO TV Made EZ kit installed, transmission cooler lines are almost in...lots more to do though.

Here's an updated punch list:

TUB WORK

Repair wheel tub / bed floor rust

Patch PO drilled hole in firewall

Cut firewall fuse panel hole for AAW kit

Oven cleaner underside of Tub

Pressure wash tub

Spray some kind of rust converter in areas not accessible to be prep'd and primed

Did a little work saturday on the plug wiring. Got these brackets from R&S. I think they'll work just fine.

Also been doing a bunch of research on SBC timing and decided to change out the springs, vacuum canister, and vacuum limit plate on my GM HEI distributor. Not much to look at it but it should help me get somewhere close to 14 deg. initial timing, 20 mechanical advance all in at 3200 rpm, then 12 degrees of vacuum advance. Then I can adjust from there.

That's it for now. Will try to get the plug wires shortened soon since some are way too long for a clean look. Then off to all other little tasks left for the engine.